Is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio a Sports Car on Stilts?: Cool Classic Clips

By James Derek Sapienza - April 23, 2020

This reviewer claims that Alfa has made the first true driver’s SUV.

Sport-Utility Vehicles: Is there a more misleading segment name in the automotive world? For most enthusiasts, these big people movers are anathema to the true driving experience. Yes, automakers like Porsche, Lamborghini, BMW, and Alfa Romeo have all made serious attempts at building a driver’s SUV. But at the end of the day, we still view them with suspicion. Can a lifted four-door really be a driver’s car?

That’s what carwow recently tried to find out about the Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. On paper, Alfa’s range-topping SUV is plenty enticing. It has a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6, good for 510 horsepower. It has all-wheel drive and plenty of performance upgrades. And it boasts a zero-to-60 time of just 3.4 seconds. But that’s on paper. How is it real life?

Short answer: Great.

According to British reviewer Mat Watson: “It’s mad! This engine is insane!” He describes acceleration as “ferocious,” and loves the eight-speed automatic transmission and massive six-piston brakes. In Race mode, the exhaust opens up, giving the Quadrifoglio a very Italian engine note. It also firms up the steering, while not making it too heavy or sluggish. Mat is seriously impressed, saying “I’ve never been in an SUV as playful as this” as he chucks the five-seater around some serious corners.

Unfortunately, he does find a downside with almost every good. With all the carbon fiber interior accents, Mat says “you know you’re in the performance version.” But, the non-carbon fiber bits feel cheap. Race mode is great, but he describes the infotainment system and suspension settings as frustrating “so bureaucratic.” He also dings the Alfa for an unusual amount of road and wind noise at highway speeds.

Still, he concludes that very little of this matters, because buyers will overlook all of the Quadrifoglio’s idiosyncrasies. Because, of course: “This is not really an SUV. This is a sports car on stilts.” With a wider track and quad tailpipes, it stands out from the base Stelvio. But its aluminum body and 31 miles per gallon on the highway also make it highly livable.

He may have tried to stay impartial during the review, but it’s clearly difficult for Mat to keep feelings for the Alfa from shining through. His verdict? “I think it’s a brilliant driver’s car that also just so happens to be an SUV.” Well, if any car company was going to successfully turn an SUV into a driver’s car, it makes sense that it would be Alfa Romeo.